Falconers LLP Commemorates National Aboriginal Day 2017

Falconers LLP Commemorates National Aboriginal Day 2017

On June 21, 2017, we mark National Aboriginal Day.

National Aboriginal Day is a day for all individuals to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. Selected for its cultural significance as the Summer Solstice, June 21 was selected as the date for National Aboriginal Day after consultation with Indigenous groups. National Aboriginal Day falls within the month of June, which is recognized as National Aboriginal History Month.

It was first celebrated on June 21, 1996, after being recognized through a proclamation by then Governor General Roméo LeBlanc. Falconers LLP celebrates and acknowledges the day in support of and in solidarity with all of our First Nations clients including, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Rainy River First Nations, and all other First Nations individuals and organizations across these lands.

At Falconers, we do not only count this as a day of celebration, but also for sober reflection and for motivating concrete and concerted action to address ongoing injustices continually faced by Indigenous communities across this territory. This includes the federal government’s ongoing discrimination against 63, 000 First Nations children and families in the provision of child welfare services, including for suicide prevention; callous indifference and inaction of police services to adequately prevent, investigate and lay charges in the ever climbing number of drownings of Indigenous people in Thunder Bay; and poisoning of Indigenous communities’ water supply and ongoing deprivation of basic resources and services necessary for the health and well-being of First Nations communities across these lands.

In the spirit of honouring and demonstrating active commitment to reconciliation, Falconers LLP is proud and humbled to serve its First Nations clients. We encourage all non-Indigenous peoples who are privileged to benefit from residence and resources of Indigenous lands to commemorate this day. To show active support for Indigenous peoples, we also strongly encourage all settler peoples on this land to read and review the Truth and Reconciliation Calls To Action to learn about how they can contribute to the efforts of reconciliation